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Wednesday, 30 April 2008

Queensland's electoral laws will be changed to bring increased scrutiny to political donations.

Under Queensland laws, donations totalling more than $1,500 in a financial year must be declared to the state's electoral commission.

Premier Anna Bligh has told state parliament that in line with proposed commonwealth reforms, the state's Electoral Act would be amended to require political donations of $1,000 and above to be reported.

The disclosure timeframe will also be reduced from 12 months to six months, and candidates will be required to verify their electoral expenditure, to stop them making a financial gain.

Donations from overseas or non-Australian companies will be banned.

Ms Bligh said it was time for a full debate on the funding of political parties.

"I believe many Australians are genuinely concerned to ensure we do not descend down the American path where candidates in a high office require multi-million dollar campaigns to have any prospect of success," she said.

Ms Bligh said she was open to further reforms, including a ban on all political donations.

Related:

NSW Labor faces royal commission callThe New South Wales Greens have called for a royal commission into state planning decisions, following a number of allegations the Government overrode advice to deliver huge windfalls to ALP donors.

Ban on political donations a world first, says LaborTHE proposal by the Premier, Morris Iemma, to ban all political donations would not only be a national first, but an international first, the NSW Labor Party's general secretary, Karl Bitar, told a parliamentary hearing yesterday.